Syrian Army’s Large-Scale Offensive in the Al-Ghaab Plains is Under Way: Army Enters Idlib

The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) appeared all but finished in the Idlib Governorate after the conglomerate of Al-Qaeda affiliates known as “Jaysh Al-Fateh” (Army of Conquest) captured a number of towns and military installments on Tuesday, leaving the province of Latakia susceptible to an offensive from these same Islamist fighters.

Following this Jaysh Al-Fateh offensive, the Syrian Army’s 87th Brigade of the 11th Tank Division – in coordination with the National Defense Forces (NDF), the newly formed Liwaa Al-Assoud Al-Jabal (Lions of the Mountain Brigade), and the 106th Brigade of the Republican Guard – launched their own assault on Al-Mansoura and Khirbat Al-Naqous, capturing these towns after a fierce firefight with Jaysh Al-Fateh militants.

On Friday morning, the Syrian Armed Forces surprised Harakat Ahrar Al-Sham and the Syrian Al-Qaeda group “Jabhat Al-Nusra” with a large-scale offensive in the northeastern countryside of the Al-Ghaab Plains.

Not long after they began their offensive, the Syrian Armed Forces captured the town of Zayzoun, killing over 20 enemy combatants from Jabhat Al-Nusra and Harakat Ahrar Al-Sham in the process.

The Syrian Armed Forces did not stop there, they would capture the Zayzoun Thermal Station and the town of Al-Ziyadiyah near the city of Frikka in the Idlib Governorate.

With the capture of Al-Ziyadiyah, the Syrian Armed Forces have reentered the Idlib Governorate after a brief 48 hour absence; this also paved the way for them to launch their counter-assault at the city of Frikka.

According to journalist Hosein Murtada, the Syrian Armed Forces – led by the Tiger Forces – have arrived at the southern axis of Frikka and the western axis Qarqour – clashes are still ongoing.